In a disappointing turn of events for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu will be sidelined for their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Fautanu, the Steelers’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, had been making strides in his role as a starter until a knee injury derailed his progress during practice last Friday. Initially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, the team confirmed today that Fautanu will not be able to take the field.
The extent of Fautanu’s absence is still uncertain, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the young tackle is expected to be out indefinitely. This setback comes as a blow to the Steelers, as Fautanu had been outperforming his competition at right tackle, Broderick Jones. With Jones now set to take Fautanu’s place against a formidable Chargers defense that has shown strength in the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers may face challenges protecting quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields, known for his struggles in avoiding sacks, could be in for a tough game on Sunday as he faces pressure from the Chargers’ defense. The Steelers will need to regroup and adjust their game plan in the absence of Fautanu, hoping to find a way to secure a victory without their promising rookie tackle on the field. Stay tuned for updates on Fautanu’s recovery timeline and the Steelers’ plans moving forward without him in the lineup.
